Garment supporter



Oct. 14, 1941. E. D. G. GARTH, 2,258,605

GARMENT SUPPORTER Filed Aug. 16, 1.940

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR: Ernesi D. Gfiarth,

ATTORNEYS.

E. D. G. GARTH GARMENT SUPPORTER Oct. 14, 1941.

Filed Aug. 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GARMENT SUPPORTER. Ernest p. G. Garth, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application August 16, 1940, Serial No. 352,877

12 Claims.

This invention relates togarme'nt supporting devices and, more particularly, to the species including clasp means adapted to receive and positively grip the engaged part of a garment.

A particular disadvantage inhering to common types of such supporters is the fact they necessitate the use of both hands to effect their connection to, or release from, hosiery or the like. At the same time they cause unsightly projections or humps in the outer appearance of the dress when worn beneath light apparel.

The primary aim of this invention is to overcome the above referred to disadvantages by providing a sufficiently positive garment supporter including inter-engageable elements which are easilymanipulated by the finger and thumb of one hand in effecting connection to, or release from, the garment.

Another aim is the provision of a compact garment supporter of the kind indicated, which in use is smooth appearing relative to the clothing, as well as easy to apply and detach. Another objectionable characteristic of the commonly known devices is, they often cause garter runs and varyingly injure the material engaged by the grip means whenin use, and alsowhen such grip means is released leave the removed. material disfigured. The noted disadvantages'are very pronounced with conventional hosiery suspenders and other garment holders which should hold securely, though the garments be of fine texture, and without sub jecting the garments to undue strain.

Accordingly a further aim is to provide a hosiery supporter which eliminates garter runs by spreading the tension strains laterally or over a greater area in comparison with existing types of supporters. I

In its preferred form, my invention is characterized by the provision of a comparatively thin garment supporter having a fabric engag ing aperture with opposing differentially-directed active portions, and a lock member of corresponding shape to said aperture for slidingsnap engagement therein.

Other advantages of this invention, including those derived from simplicity and inexpensive manufacture, will become apparent from the following detailed explanation of the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying sheets features of novelty over the prior art.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of one preferred embodiment of the supporter device of this invention in active position with a portion of garment fabric being held thereby.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the supporter device with themovable fastening or look member in initial entering position in respect to the clasp or supporting member, said section being drawn toa larger scale for clearer illustration. Y i

Fig. 3 is a similar vertical section with the lock member in position ready for snap coaction with the supporting member.

Fig. 4 is a corresponding section, but showing the respective parts in active position, or with the garment fabric lockedagainst accidental release. a

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective (reverse) view of the supporting member included in the preceding illustrations. a

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective (reverse) View of the fastening or look member later on fully described. I

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the garment supporter in accordance with this invention, with the supporting and locking members in the inactive position.

Fig. 8 is a central vertical section taken approximately as indicated by the arrows VII IVIII in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the supporter member.

Fig. 10 is a similar'view of the lock member; and, 7

Fig. 11 is a corresponding illustration of an attaching link for the garment supporter shown inFigs.7and8.

In describing the embodiments of this invention exemplified in the two sheets of drawings herewith, specific terms will be employed, for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood the scope of said invention is not thereby limited; each such term being intended to embrace all equivalents which perform the same tunetion for an analogous purpose,

Referring more in detail to the drawings, it is to be remarked that the novel embodiments therein illustrated are preferably, although not essentially, designed for, hosiery supporting use, while eachform comprises a supporting member comprehensively designated I and a lock member 2, with flexible means 3 connecting the aforementioned parts I and 2 together. It is, also, to be noted the parts I and Z are preferably made of any sultable plastic adapted for other means in accordance with known art; while I said slot I is provided with an intermediate notch 9 communicating into a rectangular recession III in the inner face of the supporting member I. This recession I and notch 9 are of suitable dimensions for the respective reception of the sealed-in one end II of the flexible connector 3, and its central alignment with respect to the longitudinal median of the supporting member I, as readily understandable from Fig. 1.

The clasp-loop '6 of the supporting member I is conveniently, although not essentially, of invertedstirrup contour with a rounding I2 and parallel legs I3, said rounding being beveled at I4; it'being noteworthy thatthe bevel I4 merges into the flat or inner parts I5 of the legs remote from the corners I6 of said clasp-loop. The straight cross-portion I! of the stirrup may be of wedge cross-section, for a purpose hereafter explained.

Referring now to the lock member 2, as best Seen from Figs. 2-4 and 6, the same consists of an appropriate-section block of a contour to fit in the supporting member parts I 2, I3 and it is provided with a transverse slot I9, communicating with a rectangular recession in the inner face of said lock member and, respectively, for passage and sealing-in of the folded loop 2! of the flexible connector 3, which is desirably retroverted to form a grip tab 35, Figs. 1-4. This arrangement provides for a degree of slack in the connector 3 to facilitate manipulation of the lock member 2, as later on set forth. It is also to be' observed that the lock member 2 is formed with a shouldered heel 22 at the end adjoining the slot I9, and that it is desirably notched or serrated, as indicated at 36 in Fig. 6, to facilitate grip and in order to prevent a hose, for example, from slipping in the direction of the courses thereof when engaged by a supporter. The remote end is curved on a radius complemental to that of the stirrup-rounding I2, as well as being correspondingly beveled at 23 to engage the part I II of such stirrup.

Referring now to the modified form of the invention shown by Figs. 7-11, inclusive, all parts equivalent to the preceding description have primed reference characters applied thereto, in order to obviate repetitive explanation. The main difference resides in the employment of a doubleloop flexible connector 3, with the addition of an auxiliary attaching link 25 including the intermediate notch 9 as before set forth, and the suspending element 8'. The flexible connector 3' is passed through the link 25 and folded to provide anattaching loop 26 defined by cross-stitching 2'I,.with one portion 28 retroverted and threaded through a transverse slot 29 in the stirrup shaped supporting member I, and the other portion 30 similarly retroverted and passed through parallel slots 3| 32 in the lock member 2. The free ends ,of both of the loop retroversions 28, 30 are brought together and securely connected-by the crossstitching 21 above referred to; while the lock member 2 is conveniently formed with a crescent-shaped leading-in end 24, or relatively stepped rounding or lip 23 in an obvious manner. The retroversion 30, as well as the connector 3 in the embodiment of Figs. 1-6, are each afforded a small degree of slack for ease in manipulating the lock member 2 or 2 as now to be described; while just sufficient clearance around said lock members 2, 2, relative to the stirrup apertures of the supporting members I, I is provided to obviate undue pinching of garment fabric 33.

Assuming, for example, that the improved devices of this invention are designed for use upon hosiery, and that the respective lock member 2 or 2' is disengaged or free from the supporting member I or I as best understood from Figs. 7 and 8, the wearer simply draws the welt or upper portion 34 of the stocking fabric between the parts I, I and 2, 2' until the top edge lies beneath the flexible connection 3, Figs. 1-6, or the retroversions 23, 30, Figs. 7-11, whereupon by pressing the parts I, I, 2, 2 between the thumb and first finger of the hand and slightly sliding them relatively in a longitudinal direction until the leading-in end, or the crescent-shaped part 24, of the lock member 2 or 2' enters the associated stirrup rounding I2 or I2, see Fig. 2, and moves to the position of Fig. 3, when a slight compressive pressure on the lock member 2 or 2' snaps it inward relative to the supporting member I or I with resultant locking interengagement thereof, as

shown in Fig. 4. When the preferred form shown in Fig. 1 is used, the tab 35 may be gripped or pulled downwards to facilitate guidance of the look member 2 into engaged position. Now it will be apparent that the inherent contractive action of the hosiery fabric will exert a normal pull, whereby the parts I or I are maintained in positive coaction with the parts 2 or 2'. It is also to be particularly noted the securing operation can be just as easily eifected by downward sliding movement effected by one finger applied to the lock member 2 in opposition to the supporting member pressed against the leg. To release the parts, the wearer simply pushes the lock member 2 or 2 outwardly in respect to the associated supporting member I or I' between finger and thumb, or, when the preferred form of Fig. 1 is used, by exerting a pull on the tab 35 (downwardly and outwardly with respect to the leg) whereupon the welt 34 can be readily withdrawn with no appreciable distortion or disfigurement.

Still further, it will be apparent that in use the improved garment supporter of this invention presents a smooth appearance devoid of humps and wrinkles.

Although there has been shown and described with careful detail two practical embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to be limited to the exact forms illustrated, for example the lock member of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-6 may obviously be provided with a leading-in crescent end 24 without departing from the essence of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended to include herein such substitutions, modifications or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of this invention as pointed out more concisely in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A garment supporter comprising attaching means, a supporting member connected to the attaching means, said member having a fabric clasping opening with differentially-directed active portions, a connector dependent from the supporting member, a lock member at the free end of the connector corresponding in shape to but narrower in width and greater in length than the opening in the supporting member, and said lock member being insertible in and removable from the supporting member opening by direct sliding-snap coaction of said lock member with respect to the supporting member and the interposed garment fabric.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the lock member has a serrated portion for preventing relativetransverse slippage between the fabric and said lock member.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the lock member is provided with a flexible tab adapted to be gripped by the fingers for downward and outward pull to release the lock member.

4. A garment supporter comprising attaching means; a supporting member connected to the attaching means; a fabric engaging member attached to the supporting member, said fabric engaging member having an aperture embodying a bevel rounding with parallel flanking portions into which said rounding merges; a flexible connector secured at one end to the fabric engaging member; and a lock member at the other end of the flexible connector corresponding in contour to but narrower in width and greater in length than the aperture through the fabric engaging member, said lock member being insertible in the opening in the fabric engaging member by direct sliding snap movement of the lock member with respect to the fabric engaging member with the garment fabric interposed and a downward pull for release therefrom.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the lock member is provided with a leading-in bevel portion and an opposed stepped end, said member being insertible from the outer face of the supporting member opening by sliding movement, and snap action under the normal tension of the fabric into locking position.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein the supporting member includes a lower inverted stirrup portion, the lock member is of corresponding shape to the stirrup opening, and both members are made of hardened plastic having a degree of set sufiicient to resist deformation in use.

7. The combinationof claim wherein the supporting member embodies an upper link section, a, medial shank, and a lower apertured extension including spaced portions of differentially directed inclination; and a recess in the back of said member for secure and central attachment of one end of the flexible connector to said link section.

8. The combination of claim 4, wherein the lock member is in the form of a block having a shouldered heel at one end, a curvilinear beveled end opposing the shouldered heel, a transverse slot through the block proximate the shouldered heel, and a communicating recess for reception and secure attachment therein of a folded loop in the flexible connector passed inwardly through the transverse slot with provision of a. manipulator tab length of said flexible connector projecting outwardly beyond the lock member.

9. A garment supporter comprising an attaching means, a suspension link sustained by the attaching means, a double-loop flexible connector carried by the suspension link, an inverted stirrup member dependent from one of the flexible connector loops, a lock member corresponding in contour to but narrower in width and greater in length than the opening through the stirrup member similarly dependent from the other loop of said flexible connector, said lock member being insertible in the stirrup member opening by direct sliding-snap coaction with respect to the stirrup member and the interposed garment fabric, and removable by outward pressure exerted against the upper part of the lock member relative to the stirrup member.

10. A garment supporter as defined in claim 9, further characterized by the stirrup member rounding and flanking portions being beveled inwards, and the lock member having a shouldered heel and a crescent-shaped leading-in end.

11. The combination of claim 9, wherein the inverted stirrup member is provided with a transverse slot in its straight portion for .passage of the associated flexible connector loop.

12. The combination of claim 9, wherein the I lock member is provided with parallel transverse slots proximate the upper end for passage of the associated flexible connector loop.

ERNEST D. G. GARTH.

Patent No. 2,258,605 Granted October 14, 1941 ERNEST D. G. GARTH The above entiflml patent was extended August 28, 1951, under the provisions of the act 0f June 250, 1950, for 7 years and 173 days from the expiration of the original term thereof.

Commissioner of Patenta. 

